Welcome!
I am writing about herbs in the 2016 April AtoZ blogging challenge. Most of the herbs written in this series are those I have seen or used. Today's herb has a strange common name and I have not really understood why it is so-called as it bears no resemblance to the real object.
My T herb is the Toothbrush Orchid which doesnt look like a toothbrush at all.. The only resemblance by a long long stretch is that the flowers are all borne on one side, just like toothbrush bristles. I first saw this at the Kaas plateau and recently saw it much closer to Pune, near the Varsagaon dam. Those plants were only about 6" tall, the creamy white flowers created a beautiful pattern on the grassy plateau. Young flowers are greenish white and change to yellow as they grow older..
It goes by the botanical name Habenaria heyneana and belongs to the Orchidaceae family. The Flowers of India website showed me 37 plants of the Habenaria genus- that's huge variety is it not?
Tomorrow is the fourth Sunday of April 2016 and then we enter the final stretch of our blogging challenge. Its been a wonderful journey so far, I am sure you agree.
Have a great weekend folks!
:)
I am writing about herbs in the 2016 April AtoZ blogging challenge. Most of the herbs written in this series are those I have seen or used. Today's herb has a strange common name and I have not really understood why it is so-called as it bears no resemblance to the real object.
My T herb is the Toothbrush Orchid which doesnt look like a toothbrush at all.. The only resemblance by a long long stretch is that the flowers are all borne on one side, just like toothbrush bristles. I first saw this at the Kaas plateau and recently saw it much closer to Pune, near the Varsagaon dam. Those plants were only about 6" tall, the creamy white flowers created a beautiful pattern on the grassy plateau. Young flowers are greenish white and change to yellow as they grow older..
Tomorrow is the fourth Sunday of April 2016 and then we enter the final stretch of our blogging challenge. Its been a wonderful journey so far, I am sure you agree.
Have a great weekend folks!
:)
yes form a distance it resembles a tooth brush. How cute. :)
ReplyDeleteSeena
#AtoZChallenge - T is for Teething troubles
I can see how it gets its common name, and would love to see it 'in the flesh', as it were, to confirm that.
ReplyDeleteTwenty posts down, six to go. It's been a great month.
Keith Channing A-Zing from http://keithkreates.com
@Keith Thanks for stopping by. These flowers are prettier than the images.:)
Delete@Seena-these are amazing! Cheers :)
ReplyDeleteHow did you get to the varasgaon dam ?
ReplyDeleteHi bellybytes. Road to Panshet dam goes on to Varasgaon dam. This plant was seen in the adjoining hills in monsoon.
ReplyDeleteHow amazing is our nature!! Read and saw about Toothbrush Orchid for the first time! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteLovely flowers and a beautiful theme for the challenge! I'm enjoying learning so many new things!
ReplyDeleteAmanda (from www.amandafleet.co.uk)
Thank you Shilpa :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Amanda! Glad you could stop by! :)
ReplyDeleteThis resembles the wild orchids that grow here in Michigan.
ReplyDelete@Denise - This one grows in the wild too. In fact people are advised not to try to uproot and bring back the plants to the city because they will not survive here. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteThey look really pretty. I have seen them only once or twice before.
ReplyDeleteA Whimsical Medley
Twinkle Eyed Traveller
Very memorable flowers. Thanks Rajlaksmi!
ReplyDelete